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Huckaby: Herschel's endorsement is like seven normal endorsements

I don’t always talk about politics in my weekend column because when I do it makes Katherine Chandley mad. I hate to upset Katherine Chandley. I really do. Tailgate season is coming up soon and if the food mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. But sometimes a man has to do what a man has to do and let the chips fall where they may. Today is one of those days. I’ll get back to writing about old times not forgotten next week. But today it’s politics.

I was already leaning toward Jack because, well, for a lot of reasons. He was born in Bryan, Texas, which is a pretty good town, even if the SEC won’t let Georgia play there (it’s right beside College Station) until 2024. A guy born that close to Texas A&M can’t be all bad. That’s right. I am an honorary Aggie — but I’m not one of the ones who think Johnny Football didn’t get paid for his autographs. I am one, however, who thinks he was a marvelous college quarterback — but I digress, as usual.

We were talking about Jack Kingston. He was raised in Athens, hallowed be thy name, and was one of Kelley’s Boys at the Athens Y. I know for a fact that Cobern Kelley had a tremendous influence on Kingston’s development. I am pretty sure that the values Kelley helped instill in him will serve him well in the U.S. Senate. I do not know if Jack Kingston was ever a member of the Red Bottom Club — but I bet I find out soon.

Kingston is also a graduate of the University of Georgia, and we need more Bulldogs in the Senate. Plus, most of his views are closer to mine than anyone else running to fill Saxby Chambliss’s seat.

Actually, let me correct myself. It is not Saxby’s seat. It belongs to the people of Georgia. Saxby has just been occupying it for us for the past 12 years.

See how thoroughly I have thought this out? I already voted for Jack Kingston in the Republican primary, but decided to make my endorsement public Wednesday night, as I was packing for a trip to Europe that will trace the path of the U.S. Army during World War II. My daughter, Jamie Leigh, sent me a link to a video, and I watched my first political commercial since the invention of the remote control.

There he was. Herschel Walker, telling the world, “I want my friend, Jack Kingston, carrying the ball for us in Washington.” There you go. Herschel Walker. That’s like seven endorsements in one. Call me shallow if you wish, but if I were running for the Senate — or the House — or for chief dog catcher (no pun intended) I would want Herschel’s endorsement. So I’m down with Jack, stronger than ever. If Herschel can make his endorsement public, so can I.

Now it might surprise you to know that I have strong political leanings, but I do. In fact, I considered running for Congress myself — for Paul Broun’s vacated seat. I figured I could at least beat Charles Darwin. The reason I wound up not running is because I found out that if I won I would have to move to Washington and actually serve in Congress. Who in his right mind would want to spend every day with those guys? Besides, I am having way too much fun doing all the things I am doing.

Of course my long-time readers will recall the term I “served” as lieutenant governor of Georgia — and every election they tell me I get a few write-in votes for that position. It reminds me of a conversation I once had with the Great Earl Fales, a Georgia legend.

After one particular election, the Athens Banner-Herald published all of the write-in votes cast in every local race. Coach Fales received one vote for mayor. The next day in class I said to him, “Coach, you got a vote in the election yesterday for mayor of Athens.”

He told me, “That’s right, Huckaby, and if I could have voted twice I would have gotten two votes.”

There you go. Obviously nobody cares who I want to be our next senator. It’s a personal matter, but I’m still down with Jack. And the other guy?